A mobility friendly surprise of a destination awaits on the shores of rivers and Lake Michigan
As sunset approached on a cloudy August evening, we went to Lake Michigan’s Weko Beach anyway. Hundreds of others had the same idea: Whether or not you could see the sunset from the lake’s edge, at least you were at the beach, with the sand, the waves, and a gorgeous summer evening in accessible Southwest Michigan.
As we stood in the parking lot, the dark, blue-gray clouds let slip a glimpse of red sun. So we waited. Watched. And knew that no matter how this Great Lakes sunset finished, our time and adventures in Southwest Michigan weren’t ending. They were just getting started.
We want to thank Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council for sponsoring our visit. However, this article reflects our own personal opinions and experiences.
Family and accessible vacation ideas in Southwest Michigan
“Southwest Michigan’s communities and outdoor spaces are a wonderful surprise of a destination. One that, just like that sunset, will leave you happy and sated, yet wanting more.”
Accessible Southwest Michigan: Fun for families and for visitors who have disabilities
As a family of four, we travel with two kids (ages 9 and 12). Plus, Jodie is an above-knee amputee who uses a prosthetic leg for her walking mobility. When we travel and make vacation plans, we consider not only what is a good mix of fun and safe for our kids. We take into account how well Jodie will be able to enjoy what we do, plus how a destination enables her to spend more time enjoying our family trip, and less time being concerned about the logistics of access.
Also check out: Southwest Michigan’s Guide to an Accessible Vacation
Activities based on place, so you can mix and match your own accessible Southwest Michigan vacation plan
We spent 5 days in the Southwest Michigan area, enjoying activities, attractions, and experiences throughout its vibrant communities, such as Bridgman and St. Joseph. We’ll break down our experiences and observations traveling with kids and a disability, but we’ll base things more on options in each place, as opposed to a blow-by-blow punch list. That way, you can more easily mix and match attractions for your own right-for-you itinerary.
We’ll share observations about mobility accessibility from our experience in Silver Beach and St. Joseph
Does your travel planning include taking into account a disability or a mobility impairment, such as a prosthetic leg (like Jodie), joint or back issues, or other mobility considerations, such as being a new parent using a stroller or baby carrier? Throughout, we’ll share accessibility notes about our experience at accessible Southwest Michigan attractions.
Bridgman
Looking for a walkable, enjoyable town, lively without hustle and bustle, with excellent dining, and that’s an easy gateway to an accessible Lake Michigan beach? Bridgman will even throw in an accessible playground and a fun craft market.
Bridgman Open-Air Market
At the Open-Air Market on a Sunday afternoon, we got our first taste of how friendly the accessible Southwest Michigan region can be. Along with local produce and artisan foods, fun crafts were on display, from innovative flower pot stands to fun jewelry (including a spider-themed bead bracelet that Aster had to add to her collection).
A teacher crafts and sells earrings and other jewelry on the side. She chatted with us about the area, working with kids, and what it was like to travel with children and show them some of the world. A few stalls away, Connor and Aster each decided that one of the articulated, brightly colored, 3D-printed dragons deserved an exchange of some of their allowance. The gentleman at the table threw in a little butterfly spider toy for free.
Mobility tip: Accessible playground at Toth Street Park
Accessible playgrounds don’t just make fun spaces for kids of varying abilities. We find that their design often makes it easy for Jodie to enjoy the playground with our kids too. Tucked just a couple of blocks off Lake Street (with plenty of free parking), the accessible playground at Toth Street Park gave Aster lots of climbing, dashing, and swinging challenges. Plus, there were tables and benches where Jodie and I could sit, chat, and watch our daughter romp.
Dining in Bridgman and Stevensville
Accessible Southwest Michigan also extends to many dining options. With a population of around 2,000, Bridgman knows how to offer delicious dining with a friendly, small-town feel. Here are some spots we enjoyed:
Red Coach Donuts
Stevensville’s Red Coach Donuts makes for delicious, yet not too sweet, breakfast or morning treats. Call ahead first though: Once they sell out, they close up for the day. Family faves for us included the S’mores, old-fashioneds with maple or chocolate, and chocolate-covered Boston creams.
Emma Hearth & Market
For dinner, we considered the American cuisine and outdoor seating at Lake Street Eats, but Emma Hearth & Market’s wood-fired pizzas won us over. Both the Roman thin-style and Sicilian thick-style crusts offered excellent flavor and chew. While there are smaller tables, we enjoyed the longer tables near the patio, where we wound up chatting with the folks next to us about how there is no such thing as too many meatballs.
Mobility tip: Accessible sunset at Weko Beach
Sunset gazing can be especially easy with accessible Southwest Michigan options. From downtown Bridgman, Weko Beach is less than 5 minutes’ drive away. Whether enjoying the beach for the day or coming in for sunset, like we did, the beach here offers another benefit: easier access to the sand and water.
Is there one Mobi-mat for less exhausting beach access? Nope. In fact, Weko Beach offers two Mobi-mats, one on either side of the Weko Beach House at the edge of the parking lot.
We love beach sunsets, but we also know that Jodie has to work so hard to deal with moving over sand. Mobi-mats lay flat over difficult surfaces such as sand. In addition to helping wheelchairs move along a beach area, Mobi-mats cut out some of the exertion it can take for visitors such as Jodie to get on and off the beach.
By using Weko’s Mobi-mat though, Jodie could focus less on every step, and more on standing with us and wondering if the dark clouds on the horizon would give us more than a fleeting glimpse of the setting sun.
Silver Beach & St. Joseph
In the parking lot at Silver Beach County Park at St. Joseph, a man riding his bike stopped to chat. (We never know when our Oregon license plate will get somebody’s attention.) He had family in the Portland area, he explained, and had recently done some RVing out west.
All along Silver Beach, from the long, broad sand to the wide, paved accessible path along the south side of the St. Joseph River, enjoyment filled the sunny August day. As we drove through St. Joseph, downtown gleamed with local businesses. Big windows and inviting front porches looked out toward Lake Michigan, so people could be part of the view, the water, the season, and the community.
Want to know more about how to spend your time (and get mobility tips) in Silver Beach & St. Joseph? Check out our companion article at the Southwest Michigan tourism website.
Mobility tip: Accessible Southwest Michigan options at Silver Beach
While Silver Beach no longer has Mobi-mats, the county park office (from the parking lot looking toward the beach, last building to the right) has a free beach wheelchair available to borrow on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The accessible Southwest Michigan walkway that parallels the beach is part of the John and Dede Howard Recreational Trail. This path makes for a lovely stroll along the back of the beach and along the river toward the jetties and lighthouses. For a longer stroll, the Howard trail totals 1.81 miles, as far south as Lions Park Beach.
We opted for some dividing and conquering. While Jodie and Connor sat on beach chairs near the concession building, Aster romped on the playground at the back of the beach. Then she and I went down to the water so she could splash around. Meeting back up a little later, the four of us walked north along the path, then cut left so we could get views of the lake and, on the northern jetty, the St. Joseph Lighthouse.
Mobility tip: Accessible Silver Beach Carousel
Nearby Silver Beach Carousel offers a break from the sun, delightful Wizard of Oz decor, and an accessible ride that can also accommodate wheelchairs. Staff can guide visitors to a ramp onto the carousel, and the dragon sleigh seats flip up to reveal anchor straps.
Where to eat in St. Joseph
The Buck Burgers & Brews
Just down from The Lilac Loft on State Street, The Buck Burgers & Brews served up not only tasty, deeply savory burgers, but lots of laughs.
Behind the bar, the “Wheel of Indecision” left a customer’s drink choice up to fate. Especially giggle-inducing for us?
”Number 15: Bartender’s Choice.”
Fortunately, the 70+ beers on tap helped us choose, and we adults had no trouble tucking into a Michigan-made Ludíngton Bay Summer Fling German Hefeweizen.
Throughout our many visits to St. Joseph, free all-day parking lots made it easy to focus on enjoying town. Instead of worrying about the meter, we wandered local businesses lining the clean, quiet streets, among other locals and visitors enjoying shops and eateries.
Tim’s Too
Speaking of eateries, assemble-your-own Asian-style bowls at Tim’s Too greatly impressed (and filled up) the kids. After you choose your own ingredients, you return to your table and soon find your dish cooked and steaming before you. The included roti, or flatbread, is beautifully chewy and yeasty (yes, it’s worth it to order another).
Dairy Korner
Also drool-worthy in St. Joseph? Check out Base Bowls, Chocolate Cafe, and Licks Sweet Treats & Eats. Since 1956, Dairy Korner has been a hub just at the edge of town, where neighbors out for a walk might stop for an ice cream cone, a hot dog, or if they’re like us, a deep-fried waffle sundae chocolate soft-serve and hot fudge.
The Copper Pot Breakfast Cafe
We will end not with dessert, but with breakfast. The Copper Pot Breakfast Cafe combines a homey, welcoming decor with a delicious breakfast menu. The fluffy pancakes had a good balance of sweetness and chew. Jodie enjoyed the just-right amount of sauce on her smoked salmon eggs Benedict. And I was a fool for the smoked salmon omelet with capers.
Hands-on family vacation memories in St. Joseph
Our family prioritizes experiences, and all the more so when we can get hands-on with food or crafts. In St. Joseph, we got to craft—and cook.
Candle Making Workshop at Lilac Loft
When The Lilac Loft moved into their new State Street location in early 2024, not only could they expand their selection of art, jewelry, scented candles, soaps, oils, and more. They could offer candle making workshops.
Aspiring candlemakers can choose from sand or poured wax. From a menu of 30 fragrance blends, we perused scent profiles including coffee, whiskey, Japanese cherry blossom, and even chocolate fudge (not surprisingly, Aster’s choice).
Now, our four scented candles are a regular reminder of our time in Southwest Michigan. (In fact, my lemon verbena candle is flickering next to me right now.)
Mobility tip: Free street-side and lot parking make it easy to park close to Lilac Loft. The inclined entry is barrier-free. Workshops are drop-in, no reservation required, but if you have needs related to a condition or disability, please call ahead to discuss accommodations.
Mobility tip: Accessible pasta Making Class at Culinary Cottage in The Market
We love getting to make things. We are also absolute fools for pasta. Anytime we combine the two, we are in our family happy place.
One of the reasons we were especially excited to take a pasta class at Culinary Cottage? Chef and owner Tara Newton has designed her new space, which they plan to move into during October 2024, to be accessible for all ages and abilities.
When Tara was designing the Culinary Cottage space prior to its opening in 2022, she thought back to experiences out and about with a relative who used a wheelchair. Tara wanted accessibility considered throughout Culinary Cottage, whether changing the heights of tables, accessing the double oven, or having enough space for a wheelchair to safely turn.
While we chatted about travel, kids, and pasta, we all worked together to craft fettuccine (while Grace tended two sauces on the stove), a chopped salad, rosemary garlic focaccia, and lemon ricotta cake. And every bite was as lovely as the family memory we had made.
Also in downtown St. Joseph
We found Culinary Cottage inside an airy hub called The Market, home to many specialty food and gift shops, along with treats, tea, coffee, and more. While Culinary Cottage is moving, their new location will be down the street.
During summer, the downtown area on the eastern side of Main Street near Pleasant Street seems to always have something going on. One evening when we dropped by Silver Harbor Brewing for dinner (and a sampler beer tray, where the raspberry wheat, hefeweizen, and Berliner Weisse especially stood out for summer refreshment), live music was cranking up and down the block. The vehicle-free Pleasant Street Plaza near the Copper Pot and The Market also regularly hosts events, such as the Wednesday Night Market.
Just outside Silver Beach and St. Joseph
Tiscornia Beach and the sometimes tourable St. Joseph Lighthouse
Want to check out the inside of a Great Lakes lighthouse? On Tiscornia Beach, on the northern side of the St. Joseph River at the very tip of the jetty, the St. Joseph Lighthouse offers seasonal tours. That’s conditions permitting, of course (check the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center website for on-the-day updates of conditions and tour availability). During our visit, we didn’t luck out; waves splashing over the jetty cut off access to the lighthouse.
Mobility tip: Paved path through dune eases access to jetty and river, lake, and lighthouse views
However, Tiscornia Beach is an easy drive with a sizable parking lot, along with a broad, paved path through the dune. The path at Tiscornia makes it quick and easy to cross toward the water and the jetty, where you can be between both the river and the lake.
Even if you can’t get up close, the lighthouse is a wonderful family backdrop for an iconic Lake Michigan sunset family selfie.
Wander the Harbor Shores Trail
Throughout our time in accessible Southwest Michigan, it’s been clear that life not only revolves around Lake Michigan, but the myriad lakes and rivers east of the lake. Water flows through all aspects of life and recreation here.
When navigating to the Harbor Shores Trails via your GPS or mapping app, we suggest putting in “Third Coast Paddling Paw Paw River Kayak.” (We originally tried navigating to “Harbor Shores Trail,” but wound up in a subdivision next to a golf course.)
Instead, once you pass Whitwam Drive while approaching a curve on Graham Avenue, look for the Paw-Paw sign by the road and the large parking lot there. In the back of the lot, Third Coast Paddling rents kayaks, and there’s a public launch dock.
Mobility tip: Extensive trail system with a variety of surfaces and range of accessibility
The Harbor Shores Trail is part of a much more extensive Harbor Shores Nature & Fitness Trail System. Accessibility varies, as paths have a variety of paved, gravel, or natural surfaces. On the Harbor Shores Trail itself, from the parking lot to the right of the kayak rental, the path is small, loose gravel. It’s difficult to walk on if, like Jodie, you have mobility considerations. Instead, she followed the grassy picnic table strip for an easier stride.
At the bridge, you can turn right to go along Ox Creek and wander through the golf course (just be mindful of flying golf balls, and if you find yourself near players, the golf course folks ask that you wait quietly until the players finish and move on).
If you turn left, as we did, the bridge gives an expansive view of the confluence of Ox Creek and the Paw Paw River, along with the wetland grasses growing in large patches. We also spied six swans.
Across the bridge, turn left for a paved seasonal loop trail that runs between the riverside golf course and a neighborhood. Or, turn right to continue the gravel Harbor Shores Trail itself.
Kayaking from an accessible boat launch at Carronde Park
Just a little inland from Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph River winds past the tree-enclosed green space’s huge playground, tree-dotted picnic areas, tennis and pickleball courts, and—what we came for—the accessible boat launch (and paved access path) at Carronde Park.
We slotted both of our tandem inflatable kayaks into the launch trough. Since Jodie doesn’t wear her prosthetic leg kayaking, she could crutch down to the bench, shift into place in our kayak, and start enjoying a lovely river paddle.
From the accessible launch, go left to start your paddle upstream, so you can ride the current downstream on your return to the launch. We headed to the right, with the park to our right, going downstream out and upstream back.
Our paddle took us by serene greenery and lovely homes—which furthered our ongoing speculations about whether we are more of an ocean, river, or lake family (or all of the above?).
The St. Joseph River at Carronde Park can be a place for older kids to try a solo kayak
Connor has been wanting to do more solo kayaking of late. It turns out the current and conditions on the St. Joseph on a sunny day in August were just right for him to try out piloting one of our tandems all on his own.
On the water, he smoothly navigated branches and found good channels. When we briefly shored up for a snack break, he was quick to bust out the dry bag, which we’d stashed on his boat, and made sure we all got some grabs at our bags of trail mix, and of cheese and caramel popcorn.
In our boat, Aster sat in the middle, with Jodie in front and Anthony in back. Aster kept an eye out for wildlife. Along with a few fish sightings, our highlight was a hawk or osprey, circling over the river across from us, spying for a potential afternoon snack.
Connor returned to the launch first. He aced navigating into the launch, then got out and laid his paddle across the entrance.
“Sorry,” he called out, “but this launch is closed!”
Just as we approached, he grinned, removed the paddle, then helped us land our boat.
Where to dine just outside St. Joseph
When some or all of your day’s activities are a little outside of St. Joseph, it’s still easy to enjoy excellent breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and treats close to town, such as:
Mason Jar Cafe
Mason Jar Cafe is airy, bright, lovely inside and out, and serves up a delicious breakfast-focused menu. We especially appreciated the combo of spaces: along the walls around the open main dining area, small rooms offer more privacy and quiet. The outdoor patio offers sunshine and shade, along with little tabletop fans to discourage pests.
Tosi’s
In the Stevensville area, Tosi’s makes an excellent spot for an Italian themed dinner, where you are welcome to snaz up for the occasion. Even on a Monday, expect a big dinner crowd and a packed parking lot—making it no wonder that 2024 marked the restaurant’s 85th anniversary.
Grande Mere Inn’s Ducks on the Run food truck at Watermark Brewing
A lively outdoor atmosphere awaits at Watermark Brewing’s excellent patio. Summer dining with a craft beverage? The outside calls, and it would like to see the tap list. The Ducks on the Run food truck offers a change-up from standard pub grub, such as a toasted lobster/crab roll, beef tips with roasted potatoes and bourbon gravy, or blackened swordfish.
Accessible beach and more at Warren Dunes State Park
A little south of Bridgman, Warren Dunes State Park combines fine sand, big parking lots by the beach, and large dunes, along with hiking trails, campgrounds, and accessible natural spaces. If you want to prioritize fun beach time for your pooch, the farthest and last beach parking lot area has a dog-focused beach.
The beach areas along Lake Michigan feature a long Mobi-mat for getting about halfway down the beach. (Contact the park office to inquire about the availability of a track chair and where it can be used in the park, plus sandboards are available.)
Mobility tip: Here’s where to park to be closest to the Mobi-mat
For the most mobility-friendly access to the beach, we suggest parking in the lot where the gift shop and restroom buildings are.
The closest area to access the Mobi-mat is the beachside right corner. If you follow the mat to the end, you’ll be about halfway to the water. Depending on where you’d like to spend your beach time, this can make it easier to find a spot on the sand, or cross the last stretch to get closer to the waves.
During our visit, Jodie preferred to stay close to the Mobi-mat, and she enjoyed watching the waves while relaxing in one of our camp chairs. I followed the kids closer to the water. Aster and Connor mostly worked on how deep they could dig a hole in the sand, and Aster would take water breaks to play in the waves.
As for me, I skipped stones.
Does Lake Michigan have the best skipping stones in the country?
My uncle taught me to skip stones when I was a kid. I’ve skipped stones on waters from Washington State to Florida. And I will unequivocally say that the Warren Dunes State Park beach area at Lake Michigan was lined with, hands down, the best skipping stones I’ve ever nestled in my skipping fingers.
With a few five-gallon buckets, I could’ve gathered enough stones to keep my skippin’ hand busy for months.
Without looking down, I could pick up flat, thin, and rounded stones, often with a good finger nook, and send them spinning. One skip bounced three times, before a wave assist knocked it high into the air. The stone arced out over the lake another ten feet.. Yet when it came down, it landed smooth on the water, and hopped another four skips before returning to the lake bed.
I’ve never had such good skips in all my life.
I’ll come back here, to this spot on Lake Michigan, just for the sake of skipping stones like that again.
Getting to and around accessible Southwest Michigan
Southwest Michigan is only a few hours from major urban areas such as Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis.
Having your own vehicle will make it easiest to get around, and you can get most places in less than 20 minutes driving.
During the high season, this area can get popular, so availability and parking can be limited. However, most areas we visited had ample parking, and often it was free.
Where to stay in Southwest Michigan
The Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Joseph Stevensville was a convenient base for getting to our attractions and experiences throughout the Southwest Michigan area. Our comfy room was always clean (and the living room area helped us spread out more and enjoy more space when we were having downtime).
This is only one of many chain and local places to stay in Southwest Michigan though. Here are others you might consider for your trip:
Delicious food, a love of the outdoors, and water galore await in Southwest Michigan
In Oregon, we noted how much people appreciated nice weather and sunshine, because it was even easier to get outside. In Southwest Michigan, where winter months can be fierce and harsh, we noticed a similar appreciation. People appreciate the outdoors. Especially when the sky is clear and the weather’s warm, they do not waste a moment, but get outside as much as they can.
Southwest Michigan is defined by Lake Michigan. Aster said the lake was like the ocean: So massive, that we could not see the opposite shore. It was a new experience to stand on the shore of a lake and know that another state was on the other side, but out of sight.
Speaking of out of sight, we’ll finish where we began: On Weko Beach, just as dark blue-gray clouds obscured a shimmering red sun.
The four of us stood on the beach, near one of the Mobi-mats. We stared at the horizon, wondering, questioning, if there would be only darkness, or maybe just one more bit of light.
We waited.
Then, through a break in the clouds, the full ball of the sun shone out, red and blazing against the blue of the clouds and Lake Michigan.
It was a surprise of a sunset. A few days later, as we left, we understood that Southwest Michigan’s communities and outdoor spaces are a wonderful surprise of a destination. One that, just like that sunset, will leave you happy and sated, yet wanting more.
